The Gaming Profession (Building a Career and Types of Jobs)
For many people, if you are passionate about a hobby, you would love to turn it into your career somehow. The problem is figuring out the “how” behind this goal. If you’re a video game enthusiast who’s always wanted to make a career out of your hobby, this information is just for you. Read on to learn the tips and tricks to making your dream job your real job.
Learn the Lingo
You don’t want to sound like a rookie when talking to other gamers or gaming professionals. Knowing the appropriate jargon will also help you be a better player when your reaction and communication must be split-second. Knowing the correct terminology will help you excel in competitive gaming when the time comes.
Practice, Practice, Practice
To perfect your play and increase your odds of becoming an internationally recognized player (i.e., make money), you need to be pretty dang good. There are a lot of gamers out there who play for hours every day; you need to not only play often but also dedicate and structure your time so that it is the most effective. Practicing against a bot or other AI is a great way to improve your skill, and practicing with other live gamers will help improve your communication—both tactics will help you become one of the best.
Understand Your Strengths
Know which types of games you are the best at and make the most use of your natural skill and ability. It’s especially crucial to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses when playing with a team so that everyone can be delegated tasks and strategies in the most efficient manner possible.
Invest in the Right Gear
Have you ever heard the phrase, “You have to spend money to make money?” Well, this is true (to some extent) in gaming as well. If you want to be able to compete with the best, you’ve got to have the right equipment. If you’re serious about becoming a professional gamer, it’s never too early to invest in the resources, such as high-quality hardware, gaming peripherals, and other gear.
Building a Professional Character
Not only do you want to be a good player, but you also want to be a professional player. If you’re an excellent gamer but have an awful attitude or disrespect your teammates, nobody will want to play with you or even associate with you. It’s important to remember to be professional, even when you’re frustrated with a game/player/teammate. You never know who might be that next stepping stone to get you to your goal!
Career Alternatives
If you’re looking to build a career in the gaming industry but not necessarily as a full-time player, there are some other fascinating alternatives to explore. For example, you could be a videogame tester. This embodies all of the fun of playing video games without the stressful competition of trying to be a professional.
A developer is another popular job in the gaming industry, although these are very difficult to snag. If this is your goal, you’ll want to study coding and computer science, and make as many connections in the industry as possible.
Another job that is less competitive is a customer support agent within the industry. If you already work in a customer-related role, this could be an easy transition for you to make.